Dr. Alice S. Kandell, of New York City, New York, is a child
psychologist formerly affiliated with Mt. Sinai Hospital. Additionally, Dr.
Kandell is an author and professional photographer, having published books on
subjects ranging from Mountaintop Kingdom: Sikkim to children's books such as
Max the Music Maker and Ben's ABC Day. Dr. Kandell is also Vice President of
the Board of the International League for Human Rights and President of the
International Vocal Arts Institute, whose faculty is affiliated with the
Metropolitan Opera. She also performs in non-singing roles with the
Metropolitan Opera in New York. She received her Doctorate in Child Psychology
from Harvard University.

Dr. Alice S. Kandell first visited Sikkim
in 1965 to attend the coronation ceremony where Hope Cooke, a close friend from
Sarah Lawrence College, became the first American-born queen. The Chogyal
(king) Palden Thondup Namgyal asked Dr. Kandell to use photography to document
the indigenous cultures of Sikkim and to show how he and Hope were improving
education and local businesses. With this special access, Dr. Kandell created a
visual encyclopedia of Sikkimese life as it was before India absorbed the kingdom.

Dr. Kandell returned to Sikkim many times,
while also completing her doctorate degree in child psychology at Harvard
University and establishing her career in New York City. Growing political
struggles between India and Sikkim brought the photography project to a close
in the early 1970s. During a final trip in 1979, she photographed the wedding
of Princess Yangchen Dolma.

Her collection grew to more than 15,000
color slides and black-and-white photographs taken while traveling extensively
through a country the size of Delaware. Dr. Kandell went high in the mountains
to meet farmers and traders who allowed her to photograph their families and
homes. She attended Buddhist religious ceremonies, captivated by the music,
masks, and dances. She captured formal and informal scenes with the royal
family in Gangtok as well as artisans with their crafts, children in schools,
and the remarkable landscape.

Two books published in 1971 feature these
photographs-- Mountaintop Kingdom: Sikkim (with text by
Charlotte Salisbury) and a book for children called Sikkim: The Hidden
Kingdom. Dr. Kandell also wrote and illustrated articles about Sikkim forRedbook, Holiday, Scholastic,
and The Saturday Evening Post.

During an exhibit of Sikkim photographs at
the Camera Club of New York in 1971, Dr. Kandell said, "I tried to use my
camera to communicate the warmth and openness of the people of Sikkim. I wanted
to capture the beauty that is everywhere." A second exhibition was held at
the Asia Society in New York, sponsored by the International Center of
Photography, in 1975.

Inspired by her experience in Sikkim, Dr.
Kandell went on to assemble a major collection of Budhhist art and religious
objects. This Tibetan shrine with original paintings, sculpture, and furniture
is now at the Smithsonian Institution. She also retained her connections to the
Sikkimese people. In 2010, Hope Cooke joined Dr. Kandell at the Library of
Congress to describe their work in Sikkim. The webcast from this program, "A Tour of the Lost Kingdom: Sikkim," can
be viewed online.

Note:
The details about Dr. Alice S Kandell are collected from ‘Biography of the
Photographer’ that is available on the website of Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov

Maghe
Sankranti is the commencement of the
holy month of Maugh, which usually falls in the mid of January. It brings an
end to the inauspicious month of Poush (mid-december) when all
religious ceremonies are forbidden. On this day, the sun leaves its southernmost position and takes off for
its northward journey, so Maghe
Sankranti is similar to solstice festivals in many other traditions. While, the day of Sankranti is considered as the coldest
day of the year, it blots the upcoming warmer weather. Though, it is rejoiced
by the Hindu Nepalese in Sikkim, the festival is greatly observed by all the
ethnic communities. This day is said to be the propitious day for holy bathing in
spite of the chilled weather conditions. This ritual usually takes place at the
union of sacred rivers and streams known as Triveni. Sikkimese people
usually visit Triveni of Teesta and Rangit, the two holy rivers of the state
near Melli to take holy bath and to pray for a better year filled with peace
and prosperity. After a holy dip on the river, the devotees put Tika
of Ban
Tarul (Dioscorea Hamiltonii) on their foreheads.

In
addition to holy bathing and worship of shrines, certain auspicious foods like
till laddoos
(seasame seeds ball cakes), chaku(molasys), gheu (clarified butter),
sweet potatoes, khichari (mixture of rice and lentils) and Simal Tarul (Tapioca) are
taken on this day. Edibles like sweet potatoes, ban tarul and tapioca are
regarded as Kandamuls (things that are grown under soil) by the Nepalese of
Sikkim and other Indian States. The day is also regarded as the New Years Day
among the Limboo community of Sikkim.

Rotey Ping; The major attraction of Maghey Mela at Ranipool

Historical Importance of Maghe Sankranti in Sikkim:

The
study of Sawai and Khado (the writings of some
contemporary writers) and the History of the Gorkhas reveals the fact that in 1788-89, the Gorkha General Jahar Singh
crossed the Chiabhanjyang pass, taking the Sikkimese forces by complete surprise and made a lightening
raid on Rhabdentse. “The capital was caught napping and the most
disorganized abandonment of any capital imaginable took place”. The Gorkhas under Purna Alley captured
Southern Sikkim through Elam. Another Gorkha force, more numerous and powerful
than the former ones under Damodar Pandey, subsequently re-inforced the
Gorkhas, they spread themselves all over the country, prying into every crick
and corner of Sikkim, they sent out parties to pry and prowl about all the
valleys of the river Teesta and its tributaries. A fierce battle took place
between the Sikkimese forces and the Gorkhas that ultimately led to the victory
of the latter. Hence, after ensuring their sway over the Western and Southern
parts of Sikkim, the victorious Gorkha soldiers celebrated their triumph at the
confluences of River Teesta and Rangit. They washed their blood stained Khukris
on the river and had taken a rinse in the river, they sang, danced and took all
wild foods like ban tarul, sweet potatoes etc. on the day of Maghe
Sankranti. Therefore, it is said that to commemorate their victories
over Sikkim and other Himalayan States of Kangra, Kumaun, Garwhal and so on the
Indian Gorkhas celebrate the day of Maghe Sankranti every year. But, the
Nepalese version of the celebration is silent about the victories made by the
Gorkha forces in the Indian States. Hence, it is not clear to ascertain that it
is celebrated by the Indian Gorkhas to commemorate their victories over the
Himalayan Sates including Sikkim.

People busy in buying materials during feast

One can
witness people enjoying swings, dance and many other games like dice, ghurni
etc at the feast organized by various organizations throughout Sikkim. These feasts
are locally known as Maghe Mela. Every rural Sikkimese is
an aficionado of such Maghe Mela to visit and to have fun. The important of
such feasts can be seen at Jorethang, Saramsa, Rorathang, Singtam and even at
Triveni at the Bengal side. Apart from the historical controversies, Maghe
Sankranti has now become a festival of unity and brotherhood in the
state of Sikkim. People of diverse ethnicity can be seen enjoying swings and
Tambola in the various feasts throughout the State.